The midterm 2015 NHL draft rankings from Central Scouting Service were released Tuesday and there aren’t any surprises at the top.

Forwards Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters (OHL) and Jack Eichel of Boston University (NCAA), as well as Noah Hanifin of Boston College are the top three ranked North American skaters, which has been the case throughout the season.

Lawson Crouse, a physical left winger with great size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) and offensive skill, has moved up in the rankings to No. 4 after a strong performance during Team Canada’s gold medal-winning run in the 2015 World Junior Championship.

London Knights (OHL) center Mitch Marner has 90 points (34 goals, 56 assists) in 42 games, but he wasn’t ranked in the top five.

That’s because Erie Otters center Connor McDavid, the top prospect in the 2015 NHL draft, fractured a bone in his hand while fighting Mississauga Steelheads center Bryson Cianfrone in an OHL game Tuesday night.

Update: Connor McDavid has a slight fracture of a small bone in his right hand. Specialist appt Wed in Toronto. His world jr play in doubt

The injury appears to have occurred when McDavid swung at Cianfrone, missed and hit his right hand on the glass instead.

McDavid is expected to be one of the top two picks in the upcoming draft, with Boston University forward Jack Eichel and Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin also in the mix.

McDavid has tallied an astounding 51 points (16 goals, 35 assists) in 18 games for Erie this season. His performance in junior hockey has earned him comparisons to NHL superstars such as Sidney Crosby and John Tavares. McDavid arguably is the best draft prospect of the last five years and considered a future franchise cornerstone at the pro level.

This injury is a setback, but it shouldn’t hurt McDavid’s draft stock much.

Panthers general manager Dale Tallon announced the deal Wednesday, eight days before Ekblad will begin competing at Florida’s annual camp for prospects. Ekblad was the Ontario Hockey League’s top defenseman last season, with 23 goals and 53 points.

Tallon says Ekblad “is a talented, strong, smart and hardworking defenseman who is ready to take the next step.”

Ekblad also attended Hockey Canada’s world junior summer development camp last month, his stay there ending early because of a concussion. Ekblad was held out of the rest of that camp for precautionary reasons.

Florida’s prospects camp begins a week before the start of Panthers’ training camp, the first under new coach Gerard Gallant.

Filed under: Florida Panthers, NHL, NHL Draft, The Associated Press, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/09/florida-panthers-no-1-pick-aaron-ekblad-agree-to-three-year-contract/feed/00Aaron EkbladnesndhartwellAaron EkbladPredators GM David Poile Mic’d Up During James Neal Trade Talks (Video)http://nesn.com/2014/07/predators-gm-david-poile-micd-up-during-james-neal-trade-discussions-video/
http://nesn.com/2014/07/predators-gm-david-poile-micd-up-during-james-neal-trade-discussions-video/#commentsMon, 07 Jul 2014 17:50:56 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=357971]]>Behind-the-scenes access is becoming more and more prevalent in professional sports, and the Nashville Predators continued that trend last month at the 2014 NHL draft.

Predators general manager David Poile was mic’d up during the event, giving hockey fans some unprecedented access at the Nashville draft table in Philadelphia. The team was busy, too, as it executed arguably the biggest trade of the draft when it landed James Neal from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

That decision was a process, and that process was exposed some in the behind-the-scenes video. The footage shows Poile discussing Neal with multiple scouts and front-office people. There’s also eavesdropping on Poile’s conversation with Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford as they hammer out the details of the trade.

This isn’t the first time Poile has pulled back the curtain in a decision-making process. Serving as USA Hockey’s GM for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Poile allowed ESPN.com to document the selection process, which touched off a controversy after Bobby Ryan was left off the roster.

Ryan Donato is living the dream after being selected in the second round of the 2014 NHL draft by his hometown team, the Boston Bruins.

The son of former Bruins winger and current Harvard men’s hockey head coach Ted Donato played for the Dexter School in Brookline, Mass., last season, where he displayed impressive goal-scoring and playmaking skills.

Check out the video above to watch his interview with NESN’s Jamie Erdahl from the draft in Philadelphia.

Filed under: Boston Bruins, NESN Sports Today, NESN Video, NHL Draft, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/06/ryan-donato-on-being-drafted-by-bruins-i-cant-be-more-excited/feed/00Donatonesnngoss2014 NHL Draft: Roundup Of Hockey East, Massachusetts High School Players Selectedhttp://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-21-hockey-east-players-selected-through-seven-rounds/
http://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-21-hockey-east-players-selected-through-seven-rounds/#commentsSat, 28 Jun 2014 20:11:42 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=353564]]>Hockey East is the best college conference in the United States, and that was evident during the 2014 NHL draft.

More than 20 players who have already played for or are committed to a Hockey East school were selected in this year’s entry draft in Philadelphia. Boston College and Boston University led the way with five players each.

Several players from Massachusetts high schools also were drafted on Saturday, continuing the state’s tradition of developing premier talent.

Here’s a roundup of the Hockey East and Massachusetts high school players selected in the 2014 draft.

Boston’s focus on skaters up front isn’t a big surprise. The Bruins struggled at times in the playoffs with both overall team speed as well as capitalizing on scoring opportunities. With the NHL evolving into a faster, more skilled game, the Bruins showed at the draft a willingness to adapt to that trend.

The Bruins took advantage of this year’s forward surplus starting on Friday night in the first round with the 25th pick. Boston grabbed Czech forward David Pastrnak, a winger with high offensive upside who can put the puck in the net. NHL central scouting labels Pastrnak as an “offensive-minded player with smooth hands, great instincts and a very quick shot,” adding that “he’s an excellent skater with speed and acceleration.”

The Bruins didn’t stop with the forward push after drafting Pastrnak.. The second-round selection of Ryan Donato — son of former Bruins forward and Harvard head coach Ted Donato — is one Boston hopes can be a value pick. The scouting report on Donato is that he’s got goal-scoring potential, as evidenced by the 37 goals he scored in 30 games at Dexter School this past season.

Donato isn’t real fast — an NHL executive told ESPN.com that Donato’s game needs more “pace” — and he’s not a huge body at 6-feet, 174 pounds. So while he’ll need to add bulk and improve his skating game, Donato carries intangibles in addition to the scoring touch. He’s been praised for his hard work and hockey sense. The Bruins know are incredibly familiar with Donato given his family and local ties, and they know they’re going to get a worker in the 18-year-0ld.

The Bruins added two more forwards in the later rounds when they selected Canadian center/winger Danton Heinen in the fourth round and American winger Anders Bjork in the fifth. Both are committed to play NCAA hockey — Heinen at Denver and Bjork at Notre Dame — and they both offer different offensive capabilities. Heinen has goal-scoring touch, while Bjork has playmaking ability.

Even the club’s seventh-round pick, defneseman Emil Johansson, is considered a two-way defesneman who can skate and move the puck.

“I also instructed our guys that I’d like a little more skill, a little more (on the) offensive side of it.” Chiarelli told reporters after the draft. “Talking Pastrak, Donato — not so much Bjork — but Heinen, Johansson pushes the puck … It’s something we’ve looked at.”

The game is getting faster and there’s an even larger emphasis on speed and offensive skill. While the Bruins have built a team centered on responsible defensive play and toughness, this year’s forward-heavy draft class shows they’re willing to adapt to the ongoing evolution.

The 17-year-old Wisconsin native — who has played center and left wing in his career — has been in United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) and is committed to the University of Notre Dame for the 2014-15 college hockey season.

Bjork, a cousin of Ottawa Senators forward Erik Condra, is a creative playmaker with good passing skills, excellent vision and the ability to stick handle through traffic. He also has the potential to be a quality goal scorer. He’s a raw talent, but should play a key role in Notre Dame’s success next season.

Boston’s next pick is in the seventh and final round of this year’s draft. The B’s have used their first four picks to draft forwards.

Heinen is the third forward taken by the Bruins in this draft, proving that general manager Peter Chiarelli and his scouting staff were determined to add scoring depth and offensive skill to the team’s prospect pool.

Heinen, who turns 19 on July 5, tallied 62 points (29 goals, 33 assists) with eight PIM in 57 games as captain of the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL in 2013-14. He has good offensive instincts, displays an amazing work ethic and has proven to be a quality goal scorer at every level he’s played at.

The Langley, British Columbia native has committed to the University of Denver for the 2014-15 college hockey season.

Heinen will begin his college career at Denver in 2014-15. Served as BCHL's youngest captain last year for Surrey ^CS

9 a.m.: Friday night at the 2014 NHL draft was a night for the big names to be taken, as teams plucked potential difference-makers in the first round. On Saturday, however, teams will look for depth players and maybe a couple of diamonds in the rough.

The Boston Bruins will have the 26th pick of the second round, and assuming they don’t make any trades, they’ll have four picks on the second day. Boston is slated to draft 56th, 116th, 146th and 206th.

The 18-year-old forward has a high hockey IQ, excels as a playmaker and is a trustworthy player in his own end as a quality defensive player.

He also uses his strength (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) well to protect the puck and has a powerful, accurate shot with a quick release. He’s not an elite skater, but he battles hard for puck possession and displays an incredible work ethic in all three zones.

Donato was ranked 58th on Central Scouting’s pre-draft rankings of North American forwards. He tallied 78 points (30 goals, 48 assists) in 30 games for Dexter in 2013-14.

His father Ted, who’s currently the head coach of Harvard’s men’s hockey team, is a former Bruin.

Ryan's father Ted (Harvard's head coach) was selected 98th overall in fifth round by Boston in 1987, played 8 seasons with B's

He won’t make an impact at the NHL level anytime soon, but the Bruins can afford to wait for him to fully develop because of their incredible depth down the middle with Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Chris Kelly, Carl Soderberg, Gregory Campbell and Ryan Spooner.

The San Diego native posted a 16-5-3 record with a .919 save percentage as a freshman for the Eagles in 2013-14. He played a key role in BC’s Beanpot title and Hockey East regular-season championship.

Demko was ranked as the top goaltender available on most pre-draft lists based on his athleticism, poise, exceptional glove hand and superb rebound control.

The selection of Demko is a wise one by new general manager Jim Benning because the Canucks don’t have a long-term solution between the pipes at the NHL level.

Eddie Lack likely will be the starter entering the 2014-15 season, but he struggled (16-17-5, 2.41 GAA) in that role toward the end of last season following the Roberto Luongo trade. Backup netminder Jacob Markstrom was acquired in the Luongo deal and has shown nothing to suggest he’s an NHL starter.

The Eagles goaltender probably won’t be NHL ready for at least three more years, but the Canucks can afford to be patient as they transition into a rebuild. The last BC goalie drafted by Vancouver was Cory Schneider (first round, 2004), who turned into the team’s starter in 2012-13 and has become a top 15 player at the position with the New Jersey Devils.

Demko will remain at Boston College for his sophomore season and is expected to be the starter or backup on Team USA’s roster at the 2015 World Junior Championships.

Filed under: Boston College, Hockey East, NHL, NHL Draft, Nicholas Goss, Top Stories, Vancouver Canucks]]>http://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-canucks-select-boston-college-goalie-thatcher-demko-in-round-2/feed/00DemkonesnngossDemko2014 NHL Draft: Top 10 Players Available After First Roundhttp://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-top-10-players-available-after-first-round/
http://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-top-10-players-available-after-first-round/#commentsSat, 28 Jun 2014 04:38:32 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=353429]]>The glitz and glamour of the first round is over, but there are still many quality players available for teams to select in the 2014 NHL draft.

One club to watch on Day 2 is the Buffalo Sabres, who have three second-round picks, including the 31st overall selection that will begin Round 2. The Anaheim Ducks are another team with two second-round selections (Nos. 38 and 55).

Let’s take a look at the 10-best players available on Day 2 of the draft.

1) Ivan Barbashev, Center, Moncton (QMJHL)

The top scorer at last year’s U-18 World Championships surprisingly wasn’t selected in the first round. A talented goal scorer with a powerful shot, excellent speed and a high hockey IQ, don’t expect Barbashev to last long in Round 2. His quality defensive skills and ability to kill penalties make him a player who coaches can trust in any type of situation. Barbashev would be a good fit for the Carolina Hurricanes at pick 37.

2) Brayden Point, Center, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Point is a talented playmaker whose vision and high hockey IQ allow him to create scoring chances for teammates. He also has good speed and a quick release on his wrist shot. The 18-year-old forward led Moose Jaw in scoring with 91 points (36 goals, 55 assists) in 72 games.

The Islanders need a center and should consider drafting Point at pick 35.

3)Thatcher Demko, Goaltender, Boston College (NCAA)

For the second straight year, there were no goaltenders selected in Round 1. Demko is the best netminder available based on his athleticism, poise, good glove hand and rebound control. He helped lead Boston College to a Beanpot championship and a regular season Hockey East title in 2013-14, while posting a 16-5-3 record and a .919 save percentage.

4) Roland McKeown, Defenseman, Kingston (OHL)

McKeown tallied 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 62 games for Kingston last season. He’s a puck-moving defenseman with good mobility and the offensive skills (great passing, excellent vision, etc.) needed to create scoring chances on the power play. He’s steadily improving defensively and displays the confidence needed to play major minutes against opposing teams’ best forwards. The Vancouver Canucks would be wise to consider taking McKeown at pick 36.

5) Brendan Lemieux, Left Wing, Barrie (OHL)

Brendan plays a similar style to his dad, former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Claude Lemieux. The Barrie Colts winger gets under the skin of his opponents, drops the gloves when necessary and plays a physical game in all three zones. He needs to be a bit more disciplined, but that will come with experience.

There’s no question that Lemieux has top-six forward potential at the NHL level. His accurate shot and quick release, combined with his willingness to go to the dirty areas in the corners and in front of the net will help him score a lot of goals in the pros. He tallied 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) in 62 games in the OHL last season.

Karlsson has a polished defensive game with his ability to defend opposing teams’ top lines, his willingness to block shots and excellent penalty-killing skills. He also plays a physical game (6-foot-1, 187 pounds) and skates really well. His offensive skills have improved dramatically over the last year, specifically his ability to create scoring chances for teammates as a playmaker. Karlsson should be one of the first players selected in Round 2.

7) Sebastian Aho, Defenseman, Skelleftea (Sweden)

Aho has a two-way skill set that includes excellent puck-moving skills, a high hockey IQ and responsible defense. He rarely gets caught out of position, block shots and plays a physical game despite his lack of size. Aho’s ability to excel on special teams makes him an attractive prospect for an NHL team that needs a versatile defenseman.

8)Spencer Watson, Right Wing, Kingston (OHL)

Watson is a talented playmaker with good speed and an impressive work ethic. He tallied 68 points (33 goals, 35 assists) in 65 games last season and would be a great fit in Calgary at pick 34.

Audette has tremendous offensive talent and tallied 76 points (21 goals, 55 assists) in 68 games last season. The main concern with Audette is his lack of size at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, but his strong work ethic makes him difficult to defend, especially when he has enough space to use his excellent speed and quickness.

10) Vladislav Kamanev, Left Wing, Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Kamanev is a two-way winger who can be trusted in all situations (including the penalty kill) because of his high hockey IQ. From an offensive standpoint, Kamanev needs to be more assertive with the puck and shoot more often, but there’s no question that he’s capable of tallying 20-40 points early in his NHL career.

2013-14 stats: 36 GP, 8 G, 16 A, 24 PIM (he scored the most points of any U-18 player in the SHL-2 going back to 1971)

Pro Player Comparison: Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings

Talent Analysis

Pastrnak shows tremendous confidence with the puck on his stick and likes to take on defenders with fantastic puck-handling skills and electric quickness.

Similar to Bruins center David Krejci, Pastrnak is a polished skater and shows impressive patience in the attacking zone by letting the play develop and picking out the right pass. His high hockey IQ and excellent vision are the foundation of his stellar playmaking skills. He’s the type of winger who makes the players around him better and will pass the puck if a teammate has a better opportunity to score.

David Pastrnak's idol is fellow Czech Rep. native David Krejci. "I think that's the right guy for me to look up to" ^CS #NHLBruins

Pastrnak’s shot is very powerful, and he complements that strength with a quick release. The Bruins don’t have many snipers on their top three lines, so it’s encouraging that they’ve added one on the first day of the draft.

When can Bruins fans expect Pastrnak to make an impact at the NHL level?

At 6-foot and 168 pounds, Pastrnak must add some strength because he’s not yet ready to consistently win physical battles against NHL players. The Czech winger isn’t a liability in his own end and has shown a willingness to improve defensively, but he definitely needs more experience defending on the North American ice before coming to Boston. Luckily for Pastrnak, Providence Bruins (AHL) head coach Bruce Cassidy does an amazing job helping forwards develop a two-way skill set that aids their transition to the NHL level.

At this stage in his development, Pastrnak likely won’t compete for a Bruins roster spot until at least the 2015-16 season.

Overall, Pastrnak is a complete offensive player with few weaknesses. He needs to play a more physical game and keep improving defensively, but there’s more than enough talent for him to be a productive second-line forward in the NHL for a long time.

“He’s so dynamic, very good with the puck in traffic and in open ice and can make defensemen look silly,” Central Scouting’s David Gregory told NHL.com in November.

“He enjoys chirping at other players too. He likes to get under your skin. He’ll allow the play to come to him, take a hit and chirp it up before heading on a 2-on-1 in the opposite direction resulting in a goal … I’ve seen it happen. He certainly has the potential of becoming a complete player.”

Milano tallied 85 points (29 goals, 56 assists) in 58 games for the U.S. National Under-18 Team last season and also recorded 10 points for the gold medal-winning Team USA squad at the 2014 U-18 World Championships.

He will join an Eagles team that won a Beanpot title and a regular-season Hockey East championship in 2013-14.

One of Milano’s best talents is his hand-eye coordination, which he displayed in an amazing stick trick video back in May:

Just two picks after Milano came off the board, the Minnesota Wild used the 18th overall selection to scoop up Alex Tuch, another BC commit.

Tuch, a teammate of Milano’s with the U.S. National Team Development program, is a 6-foot-4, 213-pound power forward who plays — according to the Wild’s official team website — a “meat-and-potatoes” style of hockey. He posted 29 goals and 34 assists in 61 games for the USNTDP last season

“He’s a big strong winger with quality hands and an NHL shot. We feel that he has tremendous upside,” Wild assistant general manager Brent Flahr said, via the team’s site. “We are very excited to add a potential power forward to our group of prospects.”

Filed under: Boston College, NHL, NHL Draft, Nicholas Goss, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-blue-jackets-select-boston-colleges-sonny-milano-at-no-16/feed/00MilanonesnngossMilanoPenguins Trade James Neal To Predators In Exchange For Patric Hornqvist, Nick Spalinghttp://nesn.com/2014/06/penguins-trade-james-neal-to-predators-in-exchange-for-patric-hornqvist-nick-spaling/
http://nesn.com/2014/06/penguins-trade-james-neal-to-predators-in-exchange-for-patric-hornqvist-nick-spaling/#commentsSat, 28 Jun 2014 00:25:47 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=353287]]>Jim Rutherford has made his first major trade as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins by sending top-six winger James Neal to the Nashville Predators in exchange for two players.

Official: Penguins trade James Neal to Predators for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling.

Trading Neal frees up valuable salary cap space for the Penguins. They have $14,630,833 in cap space with just 14 players signed for next season, per CapGeek. Rutherford needs as much cap flexibility as possible to re-sign any number of his 14 free agents, a group that includes veteran defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik, as well as forwards Lee Stempniak, Marcel Goc and Jussi Jokinen.

One of Pittsburgh’s most glaring weaknesses last season was its lack of depth, specifically on the third and fourth lines. The Penguins now have more cap space to re-sign their own guys and/or acquire players from outside of the organization. Patric Hornqvist, who tallied 53 points in 2013-14, likely will fill Neal’s spot on the second line alongside elite center Evgeni Malkin.

Acquiring a 40-goal scorer such as Neal is a huge offensive upgrade for the Predators. They finished 18th in goals scored last season and haven’t had a 30-goal scorer since 2009-10. Newly hired head coach Peter Laviolette likes to play a high-scoring, fast-paced style of hockey, and Neal is the type of winger who fits into that system perfectly. He set a career high of 40 goals scored in 2011-12, and tallied 27 goals in just 59 games last season.

They selected Barrie Colts defenseman Aaron Ekblad to join a blue line that lacks a young defenseman capable of developing into a franchise cornerstone. The 18-year-old from Belle River, Ontario is the first blueliner selected with the top pick since Erik Johnson went to the St. Louis Blues in 2006.

“The 18-year-old has tremendous size, uses his strength to his advantage and plays a physical game in all three zones. He blocks shots, plays against opposing teams’ top players and kills penalties. Ekblad also is well-positioned in his own zone, is able to skate his way out of trouble and makes a good first pass out of the defensive zone to start the break out.”

“From an offensive standpoint, his powerful shot from the point is a huge weapon on the power play, and his playmaking skills (specifically his passing) really improved over the last two years. His decision-making also is impressive, and he rarely makes mistakes.”

“In regard to a pro player comparison, Ekblad’s ceiling is Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber, but he also reminds me of Chicago Blackahawks veteran Brent Seabrook.”

In addition to his impressive on-ice skill set, Ekblad also displayed great leadership at the junior level as Barrie’s captain last season. He approaches the game like a 10-year veteran and possesses the work ethic required to become a great player.

One of the reasons why Ekblad was the top-ranked prospect in this draft class is because he’s ready to play at the NHL level next season. This made him a perfect fit for a Panthers team that wants to win and make the playoffs right away (evidenced by the Roberto Luongo trade in March).

No. 1 pick D Aaron Ekblad of the Panthers: "I feel like I can step in next year and make a difference."

The Panthers have a deep and talented prospect pool that includes several players with high-end talent, including young forwards Jonathan Huberdeau (No. 3 overall, 2011 draft) and Aleksander Barkov (No. 2 overall, 2013 draft). They passed on defenseman Seth Jones with the No. 2 pick in the 2013 draft, and Erik Gudbranson (3rd overall in 2010 draft) hasn’t developed into a top-pairing D-man, which had led to a number of defensive issues over the last few years.

Florida ranked 29th in goals scored, 29th in goals against, 30th in power-play success and 30th in penalty killing last season. This is why one of the team’s goals in the offseason was to acquire a acquire a defenseman with an all-around skill set capable of excelling on special teams — Ekblad fits this description.

The future is bright for Florida, but it must develop these prospects patiently. Ekblad is lucky to join a blue line that includes a high-character guy like Ed Jovanovski and former Stanley Cup champion Brian Campbell. These veterans will help Ekblad adjust to the speed, physicality and mental grind of the pro game.

The 18-year-old has tremendous size, uses his strength to his advantage and plays a physical game in all three zones. He blocks shots, plays against opposing teams’ top players and kills penalties. Ekblad also is well-positioned in his own zone, is able to skate his way out of trouble and makes a good first pass out of the defensive zone to start the break out. From an offensive standpoint, his powerful shot from the point is a huge weapon on the power play and his playmaking skills (specifically his passing) really improved over the last two years. His decision-making also is impressive and he rarely makes mistakes. In regard to a pro player comparison, Ekblad’s ceiling is Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber, but he also reminds me of Chicago Blackahawks veteran Brent Seabrook.Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-rankings-no-1-prospect-aaron-ekblad-headlines-defensemen/

Filed under: Florida Panthers, NHL, NHL Draft, Nicholas Goss, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/06/2014-nhl-draft-panthers-top-pick-aaron-ekblad-ready-to-play-in-nhl-right-away/feed/00EkbladnesnngossBrK8OU6CQAAgLm0Ryan Kesler: Canucks ‘Years Away From Being A Contender,’ Unlike Duckshttp://nesn.com/2014/06/ryan-kesler-canucks-years-away-from-being-a-contender/
http://nesn.com/2014/06/ryan-kesler-canucks-years-away-from-being-a-contender/#commentsFri, 27 Jun 2014 22:03:39 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=353183]]>Ryan Kesler was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday in the first blockbuster move of the summer. One of the determining factors in his desire to leave the Vancouver Canucks was that he believes they’re not close to contending for a Stanley Cup championship.

“Last year, that season was tough on all players that played for the Canucks,” Kesler said in a media conference call Friday afternoon, per Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times. “… That season was painful, to be honest.

“(The) fact they’re in a rebuild and are years away from being a contender, it was time for me to move on.”

Kesler has spent his entire nine-year NHL career in Vancouver. He won the 2011 Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward and helped lead the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final that same season.

Vancouver’s seven-game loss to the Boston Bruins in that Cup Final turned out to be a turning point in the franchise’s history. It resulted in a string of poor roster moves, and the Canucks ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs in each of the next two seasons before missing the postseason in 2013-14.

Despite re-signing top-line forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin to long-term contract extensions, there is little chance that Vancouver will make the playoffs next season. The team’s goaltending and blue-line talent are subpar, and rookie bench boss Willie Desjardins has no previous head-coaching experience at the NHL level. The Canucks’ division, which includes the Ducks, San Jose Sharks and reigning Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, arguably is the most competitive in the league.

Kesler has a tremendous opportunity to win a Stanley Cup in Anaheim, where he joins the team that finished with the Western Conference’s best record last season.